Location

Central Sangre De Cristo mountains.

This is a premier loop trip in an out of the way location. Many do it in one day, which is a 15 mile, 5000+ vertical foot epic.

We will break it up a bit. By backpacking in and camping, we can get an early start and beat the weather. We will make the loop a day hike on Saturday. Along the way, you will see new perspectives of the Crestones and surrounding big peaks of the Sangre De Cristo Range. The trail will be airy in spots. The route of course runs above timberline and we'll spend as much of the day up there as is safe.

Day 1. We'll approach from the San Luis Valley side of the Sangres, via the town of Crestone (watch for ufo's!). It is about a 150 mile drive from Denver, and the backpack in is about four miles and 2000'.

Day 2. Hike the classic Venable Comanche Loop trail.

Weather and energy permitting we will go the extra mile to bag both peaks. The trail runs under each of them so it is not a huge detour in any case. 8.5 miles if we get both peaks, 7.5 if we have to bypass them. Elevation gain for the day is about 3900 with the peaks, 2900 without.

Day 3. Pack out, stop at Joyful Journey Hot Springs for a soak before we hit the road to Denver.